Trehalose and α-glucan mediate distinct abiotic stress responses in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

ABSTRACT: An important prelude to bacterial infection is the ability of a pathogen to survive independently of the host and to withstand environmental stress. The compatible solute trehalose has previously been connected with diverse abiotic stress tolerances, particularly osmotic shock. In this study, we combine molecular biology and biochemistry to dissect the trehalose metabolic network in the opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and define its role in abiotic stress protection. We show that trehalose metabolism in PAO1 is integrated with the biosynthesis of branched α-glucan (glycogen), with mutants in either biosynthetic pathway significantly compromised for survival on abiotic surfaces. While both trehalose and α-glucan are important for abiotic stress tolerance, we show th

SUBMITTER: Woodcock SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8084333 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature